Texas Explosion Raises Concerns about Aging Refineries ; Most of the Energy Plants in the US Are over 25 Years Old and Operating Overtime to Meet Growing Demands for Oil

Article excerpt

This week's deadly blast at an oil refinery south of Houston, the
area's worst such disaster in 15 years, has put a fresh focus on
questions about the age and safety of America's oil refineries.

The blast at the British Petroleum refinery rocked the Texas City
area Wednesday, leaving more than a dozen dead and more than 100
injured. The explosion sent plumes of black smoke high into the air
and shattered windows of nearby homes and buildings.

The industry seems to be holding its breath, and experts warn
against premature conclusions until the cause of the blast is known.
Whether it was worn-out equipment or human error could make a big
difference in how the accident is perceived and dealt with.

"But either way, this is the accident we are always worrying
about," says Robert Ebel, chairman of the Energy Program at the
Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington. "It
shows the very, very slim balance between oil supply and demand
right now."

It's important to note that chemical plants, even with all the
careful safety procedures, are dealing with dangerous explosive
materials and machinery.

They require annual or semiannual inspection and maintenance, but
the newest are at least 25 years old - brought online during the oil
boom of the mid-1970s. Many are even older. The BP plant, for
instance, began operating as an oil refinery in 1934 under another
owner.

But because of the 1990 Clean Air Act and the changing
requirements for cleaner gasoline products, many of these refineries
have been highly upgraded with new equipment and technology.

Even so, there continue to be sporadic accidents and problems at
these plants. This is the second accident this year at the sprawling
BP plant in Texas City, for instance. …